Roofing system

Abstract

A roofing system includes shingles having a front surface, a rear surface, an upper portion, and a lower portion. The lower portion is wider than the upper portion. A tongue extends from the upper portion and overlaps the lower portion, thereby defining a first groove between the tongue and the front surface of the lower portion. A return extends from an end of the lower portion opposite the upper portion, thereby defining a second groove between the return portion and the rear surface of the lower portion.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of attaching roofing shingles to a roof of a structure, comprising the steps of:
 providing a first shingle and a second shingle, each of said first and second shingles comprising:
 a first portion having a first surface, an opposing second surface, a free end, and a second end; 
 a second portion having a first surface, an opposing second surface, a free end, and a second end, said second end of said second portion adjacent said second end of said first portion; 
 a tongue extending from said first portion opposite said free end and overlying at least part of said first surface of said second portion, said tongue and said second portion cooperating to define a first groove there between; and 
 a third portion extending from said free end of second portion, said third portion overlying at least part of said second surface of said second portion, said third portion and said second portion cooperating to define a second groove there between; 
 said first portion further having a first width and said second portion having a second width, said second width greater than said first width, whereby said second portion defines a first tab extending beyond a first end of said first portion and a second tab extending beyond a second end of said first portion, each of said first portion, said second portion, and said third portion are formed of sheet metal; 
 
 engaging said first tab of said second shingle within said first groove of said first shingle; and engaging said second tab of said first shingle with said second groove of said second shingle; 
 fastening said first shingle to said roof; and 
 fastening said second shingle to said roof. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1  wherein said second portion of said first shingle comprises a metal material. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2  wherein said first portion of said first shingle comprises a metal material. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 3  wherein said first portion of said first shingle defines an aperture, and wherein said step of fastening said first shingle to said roof comprises inserting a fastener through said aperture and fastening said fastener to said roof. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 3  wherein said first portion of said first shingle includes a first section extending from said second portion and a second section extending from said first section, said first section comprising a metal material and said second section comprising a roofing membrane, the method further comprising driving a fastener through said roofing membrane into said roof. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 5  wherein said roofing membrane comprises an asphalt roofing membrane, a rubber roofing membrane, or a peel-and-stick ice and water shield. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 5  further comprising the steps of:
 providing a third shingle, said third shingle comprising:
 a first portion having a first surface, an opposing second surface, a free end, and a second end; 
 a second portion having a first surface, an opposing second surface, a free end, and a second end, said second end of said second portion adjacent said second end of said first portion; 
 a tongue extending from said first portion opposite said free end and overlying at least part of said first surface of said second portion, said tongue and said second portion cooperating to define a first groove there between; and 
 a third portion extending from said free end of said second portion, said third portion overlying at least part of said second surface of said second portion, said third portion and said second portion cooperating to define a second groove there between; 
 
 inserting said tongue of said first shingle and said tongue of said second single into said second groove of said third shingle; and 
 fastening said third shingle to said roof. 
 
     
     
       8. A roofing system comprising:
 a first shingle and a second shingle, each of said first and second shingles comprising:
 a first portion having a first surface, an opposing second surface, a free end, and a second end; 
 a second portion having a first surface, an opposing second surface, a free end, and a second end, said second end of said second portion adjacent said second end of said first portion; 
 a tongue extending from said first portion opposite said free end of said first portion and overlying at least part of said first surface of said second portion, said tongue and said second portion cooperating to define a first groove there between; and 
 a third portion extending from said free end of said second portion, said third portion overlying said second surface of said second portion, said third portion and said second portion cooperating to define a second groove there between; 
 said first portion further having a first width and said second portion having a second width, said second width greater than said first width, whereby said second portion defines a first tab extending beyond a first end of said first portion and a second tab extending beyond a second end of said first portion, each of said first portion, said second portion, and said third portion are formed of sheet metal; 
 
 said first tab of said second shingle engaged within said first groove of said first shingle; and said second tab of said first shingle engaged with said second groove of said second shingle. 
 
     
     
       9. The system of  claim 8  further comprising:
 a third shingle comprising:
 a first portion having a first surface, an opposing second surface, a free end, and a second end; 
 a second portion having a first surface, an opposing second surface, a free end, and a second end, said second end of said second portion adjacent said second end of said first portion; 
 a tongue extending from said first portion opposite said free end of said first portion and overlying at least part of said first surface of said second portion, said tongue and said second portion cooperating to define a first groove there between; and 
 a third portion extending from said free end of said second portion, said third portion overlying at least part of said second surface of said second portion, said third portion and said second portion cooperating to define a second groove there between; 
 
 said third shingle overlying part of said upper portion of said first shingle and part of said upper portion of said second shingle, said tongue of said first shingle and said tongue of said second shingle at least partially received within said second groove of said third shingle. 
 
     
     
       10. The system of  claim 8  further comprising roofing granules coating at least a portion of said first surface of said second portion of said first shingle. 
     
     
       11. The system of  claim 8  wherein said second portion of said first shingle comprises a metal material. 
     
     
       12. The shingle of  claim 11  wherein said first portion of said first shingle comprises a metal material. 
     
     
       13. The shingle of  claim 12  wherein said first portion of said first shingle defines at least one aperture. 
     
     
       14. The shingle of  claim 11  wherein said first portion of said first shingle includes a first section extending from said second portion and a second section extending from said first section, said first section comprising a metal material and said second section comprising a roofing membrane. 
     
     
       15. The shingle of  claim 14  wherein said roofing membrane comprises an asphalt roofing membrane, a rubber roofing membrane, or a peel-and-stick ice and water shield.